2. Central Argument?
- the Industrial Revolution and the culture that was fostered because of it
- seemingly endless possibilities
- energy consumption (electricity, transportation)
- our economy is based on fossil fuels
3. Sustainability Problems?
- the idea that we have infinite resources
- took only about 150 years to extract and consume the earth’s resources
- the way we use energy
- the “Frontier mentality” has led us to a reckless pattern of consumption
- physics and efficiency of the automobile (not really all that efficient)
- inefficiency in general
- sizes of houses increased, making it more difficult to heat (the house is cold vs. I am cold)
- suburbanization has increased the distance that people have to commute from work
- some people are just not aware of where our fuel goes
- energy used in the extraction of energy
- cultural and psychological habits (drag racing, derbies) that have to be broken
- dependence on petroleum/oil and the huge impact a small change on oil prices have on society, in comparison to the same change in the past and how it would have barely affected humanity
- politics involved, resource wars break out to control such resources
- our lifestyle is being emulated all over the world (should be setting an example)
- climate shift due to pollution
- melting of Earth’s ice, sea-level rising, threatening coastal zones
- policy makers are trying to find ways to accommodate the demands instead of figuring out how to mitigate the need
4. Persuasive? Compelling?
- the reality of how we’ve abused energy and took it for granted
- pretty cool how ice cores can tell you a lot about climate change/conditions
- the realization that everything we do has a consequence
- good connection to the need for slavery that was done away with
- the Romans had methods of sustainable building
- the need to use our natural resources more efficiently
- state of the environment written from the perspective of an economist and it’s being more seriously considered than information from atmospheric scientists
- green technologies are the way of the future
- the New Belgian Brewery is an awesome example, so impressed
- we don’t necessarily have to give up our lifestyles in order to figure out how to live sustainably
- where the market is failing us, we need motivated elected officials to support these new rules we need to live by to survive sustainably
5. Not Compelling?
- the United States is the world’s only superpower?
- not sure that separating trash will be as successful as is expressed, but still, it’s a step forward
6. Info to Seek Out?
- how come Europe is so much more in tune with sustainable methods? what are they doing that we could easily do?
7. Audience?
- good general information
- some background in the field makes it easier to understand and accept
- might be overwhelming as an introduction to the topic
8. Actions? Interventions?
- connections to Japan and countries and Europe
- conservation measures were taken to deal with the energy crisis (car pooling, public transport, lowering speed limits)
- “human beings are the biggest agents of change on the planet”
- recognizing the problem and then dealing with it
- smart transportation system, larger network of connection
- wind energy, locating populations near the great winds (locating populations near resources to cut out the transport costs)
- passive solar
- photovoltaic energy
- possibilities with ethanol/bio diesel use
- hydrogen? renewable energy used to produce it
- plug in your car to your garage with solar panels
- separating the trash
- looking into who is making that “crap” that can’t be recycled or composted
- don’t go and find more energy, use the energy we have more efficiently
- energy-efficient light bulbs, houses…last longer, better for the environment, better for you
- closed-loop systems (New Belgium Brewery)
9. Enhance film environmentally? educationally?
- would like to have more defined view of embedded energy and how to reduce the impacts of production
- the solutions section is very widespread, but it’s a lot of speculation, this is what we have to do. there’s not much in the way of what has already been done
“Energy Crossroads,” 2007
2. Central Argument?
- the Industrial Revolution and the culture that was fostered because of it
- seemingly endless possibilities
- energy consumption (electricity, transportation)
- our economy is based on fossil fuels
3. Sustainability Problems?
- the idea that we have infinite resources
- took only about 150 years to extract and consume the earth’s resources
- the way we use energy
- the “Frontier mentality” has led us to a reckless pattern of consumption
- physics and efficiency of the automobile (not really all that efficient)
- inefficiency in general
- sizes of houses increased, making it more difficult to heat (the house is cold vs. I am cold)
- suburbanization has increased the distance that people have to commute from work
- some people are just not aware of where our fuel goes
- energy used in the extraction of energy
- cultural and psychological habits (drag racing, derbies) that have to be broken
- dependence on petroleum/oil and the huge impact a small change on oil prices have on society, in comparison to the same change in the past and how it would have barely affected humanity
- politics involved, resource wars break out to control such resources
- our lifestyle is being emulated all over the world (should be setting an example)
- climate shift due to pollution
- melting of Earth’s ice, sea-level rising, threatening coastal zones
- policy makers are trying to find ways to accommodate the demands instead of figuring out how to mitigate the need
4. Persuasive? Compelling?
- the reality of how we’ve abused energy and took it for granted
- pretty cool how ice cores can tell you a lot about climate change/conditions
- the realization that everything we do has a consequence
- good connection to the need for slavery that was done away with
- the Romans had methods of sustainable building
- the need to use our natural resources more efficiently
- state of the environment written from the perspective of an economist and it’s being more seriously considered than information from atmospheric scientists
- green technologies are the way of the future
- the New Belgian Brewery is an awesome example, so impressed
- we don’t necessarily have to give up our lifestyles in order to figure out how to live sustainably
- where the market is failing us, we need motivated elected officials to support these new rules we need to live by to survive sustainably
5. Not Compelling?
- the United States is the world’s only superpower?
- not sure that separating trash will be as successful as is expressed, but still, it’s a step forward
6. Info to Seek Out?
- how come Europe is so much more in tune with sustainable methods? what are they doing that we could easily do?
7. Audience?
- good general information
- some background in the field makes it easier to understand and accept
- might be overwhelming as an introduction to the topic
8. Actions? Interventions?
- connections to Japan and countries and Europe
- conservation measures were taken to deal with the energy crisis (car pooling, public transport, lowering speed limits)
- “human beings are the biggest agents of change on the planet”
- recognizing the problem and then dealing with it
- smart transportation system, larger network of connection
- wind energy, locating populations near the great winds (locating populations near resources to cut out the transport costs)
- passive solar
- photovoltaic energy
- possibilities with ethanol/bio diesel use
- hydrogen? renewable energy used to produce it
- plug in your car to your garage with solar panels
- separating the trash
- looking into who is making that “crap” that can’t be recycled or composted
- don’t go and find more energy, use the energy we have more efficiently
- energy-efficient light bulbs, houses…last longer, better for the environment, better for you
- closed-loop systems (New Belgium Brewery)
9. Enhance film environmentally? educationally?
- would like to have more defined view of embedded energy and how to reduce the impacts of production
- the solutions section is very widespread, but it’s a lot of speculation, this is what we have to do. there’s not much in the way of what has already been done